Here’s something I meant to tell you when I was writing about the native plant talk. The guy doing the talk, Nathan, was a young guy – probably early 30’s. He had to be from somewhere a bit north of here. Once he was talking about a hock. Some plant that had something to do with a hock. He said it several times. I was thinking “ham hock” but that didn’t make sense to me with what he was talking about. Finally, I said “what’s a hock?” He looked at me a bit strangely and said it again . . . a hock – like . . Lady! Surely you know what a hock is! I’m still thinking . . ham hock . . hock . . maybe it’s an insect I’ve never heard of! Vince looked at me and said HAWK!! I said oh, a hawk . . it sounded like you said hock. Vince said “She’s from Louisiana!”
He said “hock”! I guess he’s never had a smoked ham hock and black eyed peas because when you say hock, that’s what I’m thinking about. When you say hawk, I’m thinking of the bird that wanted to eat my chickens!
I know I’ve told this story before but once a friend and I were at a quilt show in PA. One of her friends from NJ or somewhere with a really northern accent came to meet us. This friend was talking and she had already said something about having a “dok” floor and I thought she said “dot” floor but she had said “dark” floor. Later, she asked our server for a “fork” . . “May I please have a fork“? But . . it didn’t sound like fork to me. I thought . . what did she just ask that guy for? Oh, my . . I about choked. Then, he handed her a fork and I figured laughing wouldn’t be good – she’d think I was making fun of her accent when really, I would only have been laughing at my interpretation of her accent.
It’s a good thing I’ve never lived up north. I’d need an interpreter.
Sara says
I often feel like I don’t hear clearly when the person has a different accent than I’m used to hearing. But then again – Maybe he was talking about the hollyhock plant? It’s common further north – Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota. All 3 states I’ve lived in have them.
Vivian Oaks says
On a trip to Texas years ago, we stopped at a take-out place in Tennessee and ordered hot sandwiches. The girl asked if we wanted “Slaw” on the sandwich, and I’ll never forget the look I got from my daughter, trying to figure out what the heck the girl said! LOL!! It sounded more like “slaur” to us silly Northerners… I was able to interpret for the daughter, but it was funny at the time.
justquiltin says
LOL But being a midwesterner if someone says that word it usually means the bird which are plentiful here because I’ve never eaten the other.
Elle says
Stopping in to say, I’m glad you’re taking some time off from blog posting. I cannot imagine the time consumed in each and every post and some days you post 3-5?
Happy Sunday Judy 🙂 I hope you’re out enjoying the garden. Our last frost was Friday so I’m spending this weekend planting all the food that has been in our little portable greenhouse!